A FOOTBALL-MAD youngster is looking forward to stepping out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley.

Seven-year-old Harry Barnes, from Formby, will be a mascot for the European Cup final after winning a competition put on by match sponsors Gazprom Energy.

He won the chance-in-a- lifetime when his drawing and video featuring his favourite Champions League moments were chosen by employees from the Russian gas company.

The competition allowed the children of staff from the company to submit entries, and employees from across Europe chose Harry in an online vote.

His dad Chris, a contract negotiator, said: “I’ve only been working for the company for six months so I don’t know that many people in it.

“It’s superb that people in the different offices voted for him. He actually came second in the competition but the prize went to first and second places. He was actually in third position for some time and then there was a big surge in support for Harry’s entry.

“It’ll be the first time that Harry has ever been to Wembley.

“He’s a massive Evertonian, but because we’re not in the Champions League this is a superb opportunity to see Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in a major final. They are two top sides.

“It’ll be amazing for Harry to get close to the players or maybe get a player’s shirt.”

The youngster’s winning drawing shows Barcelona’s Lionel Messi playing against Bayern Munich in the semi- final of this season’s Champions League.

And his video shows him laughing about his mum not allowing him to watch Champions League matches because she likes to watch Coronation Street.

The St Jerome’s Primary School pupil, who enjoys going to Goodison matches, wrote on his entry: “When the Champions League is on, my mum watches Coronation Street. That’s because we support Everton and my mum says that they are on enough at the weekend.

“My dad says that this might be the only final that we might go to because we support Everton. We want Everton to sign Lionel Messi.”

The youngster, who plays midfield for local side Redgate Rovers, cannot wait to meet football heroes Franck Ribery, Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski on May 25.

He said: “It’s going to be a brilliant experience. I’m really excited about it and I can’t wait to meet some of the world’s best players.”

Dad Chris, who will be attending the showpiece event with wife Erin, added: “I feel like a big kid.

“Obviously, it’s all for Harry, but it’ll be great for me, too, because I’ll be right next to all the star players.

“Erin and I think that it’ll be brilliant for Harry to look back on in the future.”